Robots in Precision Agriculture
(book excerpts)The mechanization of agriculture during the Industrial Revolution and later in the mid-20th century, the Green Revolution dramatically shifted the capabilities of individual farmers and how much land they could manage. From the cotton gin to tractors and combines, mechanization plays a major role in the abundant food systems we benefit from today. In agriculture, nearly every process of growing is done using highly mechanized systems, and increasingly, more intelligent robotic systems are being upgraded. Robotics, broadly defined, involves the use of machines capable of performing a wide variety of tasks and actions automatically. This includes machines that navigate spaces and manipulate objects, often using sensors, actuators, and computational systems that process the information and act on it. Agricultural robots are widely used in many aspects of agricultural production, entirely or partially replacing or assisting people in agricultural production, improving production efficiency, and enhancing production safety performance. Leveraging advanced technologies such as sensors, actuators, control systems, and artificial intelligence, with machine learning and computer vision particularly important, and GPS navigation, agricultural robots (agribots) can make farming operations more streamlined and less labor-intensive. There are a variety of different agricultural robots, each tailored for a different purpose. There are planting and seeding robots that ensure optimal plant growth and minimize seed wastage, making the planting process more efficient and cost-effective. There are weed and pest robots that use sophisticated sensors to identify and eliminate weeds or pests, minimizing herbicide and pesticide use. Robots are also used for harvesting crops, fitted with sophisticated sensors to identify ripe produce and gently harvest it at peak freshness. As a result, they enhance productivity and minimize food waste.
Click on the following topics for more information on robots in precision agriculture.
Topics Within This Chapter:
- Benefits of Agricultural Robots
- Robot System Components
- Robot Vision System
- Capabilities of Vision Systems
- Machine Vision Algorithms
- Data Logging
- Manipulation Systems
- Robotic Arms
- Robotic Actuators
- End Effectors
- Path Planning
- Pre- or Post-Product Handling
- Holding Platforms
- Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
- Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
- Articulated Robots (Robotic Arms)
- Cobots
- Surround Awareness Systems
- Sensors
- Data Processing and Interpretation
- UAV-Agribot Collaboration in Precision Agriculture
- Benefits of Integrating UAVs and Agribots
- UAV-Agribot Collaborative Applications
- Limitations and Challenges of Air-Ground Collaboration
- Application of Robots in Precision Agriculture
- Harvesting Robots
- Machine Learning and Machine Vision Systems
- Weeding Robots
- Transplanting Robots
- Seeding Robots
- Pest Detection Robots
- Fruit/Vegetable Packing Robots
- Plant Handling Robots for Greenhouses and Nurseries
- Plant Phenotyping Robots
- Pruning and De-Leafing Robots
